Vacuum cleaner with hair wrap cutter

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner that has a rotary floor agitator driven by a motor has a hair cutter blade mounted adjacent a motor shaft that drives the agitator and/or at the ends of the agitator. The agitator is driven by an electric motor through a drive belt. The cutter blade(s) are designed to sever elongate particles, such as hair or threads that would build up on the agitation brush, drive belt and motor output shaft to hinder the operation of the brush and belt or otherwise dislodged the belt from the motor shaft.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/311,893, filed Aug. 13, 2001, entitled VACUUMCLEANER WITH HAIR-WRAP CUTTER.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, tovacuum cleaners having an agitation brush. In one of its aspects, theinvention relates to a vacuum cleaner having cutters positioned adjacentthe brush and any brush drive belt to prevent build-up of elongateparticles, such as hair and thread, that will interfere with operationof the brush and belt.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vacuum cleaners with a rotational agitation brush are known. Typically,brush drive is accomplished by a drive belt linking an electric drivemotor to the agitation brush. A common problem known in the rotationaldriving of an agitation brush is the accumulation of elongate particlessuch as hair, thread and carpet fibers about the rotational axis of theagitation brush and about the linkage mechanism connecting the drivebelt to the electric motor and the agitation brush. Prior attempts havebeen made to inhibit and reduce the accumulation of debris around thebrush and linkage mechanism are also known. One such device is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 2,671,923 issued to La Briere on Mar. 16, 1954. In LaBriere, a suction cleaner thread guard is mounted adjacent a shaft, theshaft driving a suction fan of the cleaner and a belt for driving anagitation brush. The thread guard is planar and aligned adjacent to theshaft to encourage axial air flow into the fan, and positioned proximatethe shaft to prevent threads from wrapping around shaft as the suctionair flows axially into the fan.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,119 issued to Conrad et al. on Jan. 9, 2001,discloses a method and apparatus for reducing the size of elongateparticulate matter in a vacuum cleaner head. A cutting member installedin a fixed position in the main turbine housing cooperates with theblades of the main turbine to reduce the size of particulate matter asit travels through the housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,878 to Linke et al. on May 1, 1984 discloses a chainstripper device for mining machines incorporating an arcuate blade thatextends into a groove of the chain wheel in order to separate the chainfrom the wheel as the wheel rotates.

U.S. Pat. No. 936,887 issued to Healey on Oct. 12, 1909 discloses a beltcleaner comprising a section of belting held in a bracket so that itpresses against a working surface of an operating belt to clean dirt andother foreign matter from the belt.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,560,307 issued to Slemmons on Jul. 10, 1951 discloses aband and pulley structure including a scraper element for removingforeign material from the groove of a pulley such as used in atrack-type vehicle.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a vacuum cleaner that comprises a housingdefining an agitation cavity and a suction nozzle, a suction source influid communication with the suction nozzle, an agitation brush mountedin the agitation cavity for rotation about a brush axis, and anagitation brush drive connected to the agitation brush for rotating theagitation brush about the brush axis has at least one cutting bladepositioned adjacent a portion of the agitation brush drive to preventbuildup of elongate particles on the portion of the agitation brushdrive.

In one embodiment, the agitation brush drive comprises an electric motorwith an output shaft connected to the agitation brush and the cuttingblade is mounted adjacent to the motor output shaft. Preferably, themotor output shaft includes a spindle and the cutting blade is mountedadjacent to the spindle. The agitation brush drive further comprises abelt between the spindle and the agitation brush.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one additionalcutting blade is mounted to the housing adjacent the agitator brush.Preferably, additional cutting blades are mounted to the housingadjacent to each end of the agitator brush.

The vacuum cleaner according to the invention can take a variety offorms. It can be an upright vacuum cleaner, a canister vacuum cleaner, aportable hand-held vacuum cleaner or a deep cleaner.

In another embodiment of the invention, a vacuum cleaner that comprisesa housing defining an agitation cavity and a suction nozzle, a suctionsource in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, an agitationbrush mounted in the agitation cavity for rotation about a brush axis,and an agitation brush drive connected to the agitation brush forrotating the agitation brush about the brush axis has at least onecutting blade mounted to the housing adjacent a portion of the agitatorbrush to prevent buildup of elongated particles on the portion of theagitation brush.

Preferably, the portion of the agitator brush is adjacent an end of theagitator brush. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, acutting blade mounted to the housing adjacent to each end of theagitator brush.

The invention reduces the accumulation of elongate particles in thebrush bearings and the motor drive, thereby reducing the interference ofthese particles with the proper operation of the agitation brush.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaneraccording to the invention with the handle assembly in the upright orstorage position.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway plan view of the base module of the upright vacuumcleaner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken through line 3—3 of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken through line 4—4 of FIG.2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A vacuum cleaner with hair-wrap cutter is herein disclosed by way ofexample with reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4. Any portion of thevacuum cleaner not specifically described herein is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,256,833, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. The hair-wrap cutter according to the invention is shown anddescribed in the context of an upright vacuum cleaner, but the hair-wrapcutter according to the invention is similarly applicable in other formsof vacuum cleaners having a rotational agitator, such as attachments forupright or canister vacuums and hand-held vacuum cleaners. The hair-wrapcutter according to the invention is further applicable to a deepcleaning machine having a rotational agitator such as disclosed incommonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,587, which is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an upright vacuum cleaner 10 isillustrated and includes a handle assembly 12 pivotally connected to abase module 14. More specifically, the handle assembly 12 includes anupper end 16 including a hand grip 20 and a lower end 18 including anarcuate motor and lamp housing 22. Between the upper end 16 and lowerend 18 is mounted a soft collection bag 24. The base module 14 includesa front end housing an agitation brush 26 and a rear end including apivotal connection to the arcuate motor and lamp housing 22 of thehandle assembly 12. The bag 24 is porous and exhausts air that flows tothe bag 24. Housed within the bag 24 is a filter bag (not shown) thatcaptures dirt and debris from the air that enters the filter bag inconventional fashion. The invention also contemplates a hard imperviousbag housing and a filter bag mounted within the hard impervious baghousing for a clean air system as, for example, disclosed in the JailorU.S. Pat. No. 5,544,385 which is incorporated herein by reference. Inthe clean air system, the dirty air is drawn through the filter bag by asuction motor.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the agitator brush includes a spindle thatis rotatably mounted to the outer housing of the base module 14 at eachend thereof in conventional fashion. The spindle has one or more rows ofbristles that agitate a carpet to be cleaned. A hair-wrap cutter 210 ismounted in the base module 14 housing adjacent each end 27 of brush 26and adjacent to the rotational mountings. The cutters 210 are positionedclosely adjacent the surface of brush spindle and parallel to the axisof rotation of the brush 26 to minimize the buildup of elongateparticles such as hair, thread or carpet fibers on the brush 26 andespecially adjacent the brush ends 27 where such elongate particles mayinterfere with the rotational mounting of the brush 26 in the basemodule 14 housing. Hair wrap cutters 210 include a cutting edge 212adjacent the spindle of the brush 26 to sever and break up the elongateparticles. Each hair-wrap cutter 210 is mounted to the base module 14 bya fastener 214 such as a screw received in an integrally molded boss 216of the base module 14 housing.

A third hair-wrap cutter 220 is mounted to the bottom shell 88 of basemodule 14 in like fashion, with a pair of fasteners 224 mounting thecutter 220 to an integrally molded boss 226. Housing 22 houses a drivemotor (not shown) having a motor shaft extending from housing 22 andmounting a spindle 168 for mounting and driving a drive belt 74 (shownin phantom in FIG. 2). Cutter 220 includes a cutting edge 222 positionedadjacent to spindle 168. Belt 74 is further received in groove 92 ofrotating brush 26. Hair wrap cutter 220 is mounted closely adjacentspindle 168 and between the two portions of belt 74 extending fromspindle 168 toward brush 26 to avoid interference with the operation ofbelt 74 on spindle 168. Elongate particles carried through secondary airpassageway 56 adjacent belt 74 are prevented from building up on spindle168. Elongate particles picked up by the brush 26 also tend to becarried by the belt 74 to the spindle 168. Such elongate particles havea tendency to interfere with or dislodge belt 74 from spindle 168.Cutting edge 222 of cutter 220 cuts the elongate particles from thespindle 168 and prevents buildup to reduce such interference by elongateparticles with the operation of the belt 74.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it willbe understood that the invention is not limited thereto. For example,the invention can applied to any vacuum cleaner that has a rotatablydriven agitator, including a canister vacuum, a hand held vacuum cleaneror an upright vacuum cleaner. The invention can also be used on deepcleaners or extractors of all types wherein a motor driven rotationalagitator is employed. The invention can also be used on all types ofagitators in addition to brushes. The invention can further be used withair turbine driven agitators as well as electrical motor drivenagitators. Reasonable variation and modifications are possible withoutdeparting form the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings,particularly in light of the foregoing teachings, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising; a housing defining an agitation cavityand a suction nozzle; a suction source in fluid communication with thesuction nozzle; an agitation brush mounted in the agitation cavity forrotation about a brush axis; an agitation brush drive connected to theagitation brush for rotating the agitation brush about the brush axis;the improvement comprising, at least one cutting blade positionedadjacent a portion of the agitation brush drive to prevent buildup ofelongate particles on the portion of the agitation brush drive.
 2. Thevacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the agitation brush drivecomprises an electric motor with an output shaft connected to theagitation brush and the cutting blade is mounted adjacent to the motoroutput shaft.
 3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein themotor output shaft includes a spindle and the cutting blade is mountedadjacent to the spindle.
 4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3wherein the agitation brush drive further comprises a belt between thespindle and the agitation brush.
 5. The vacuum cleaner according toclaim 2 wherein the agitation brush drive further comprises a beltbetween the motor drive shaft and the agitation brush.
 6. The vacuumcleaner according to claim 5 and further comprising at least oneadditional cutting blade mounted to the housing adjacent the agitatorbrush.
 7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 wherein the at leasttwo cutting blades comprises two cutting blades, one mounted to thehousing adjacent to each end of the agitator brush.
 8. The vacuumcleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a handle assemblypivotally attached to the housing.
 9. The vacuum cleaner according toclaim 1 and further comprising a canister mounting the suction source,and a flexible hose fluidly connecting the suction source to the suctionnozzle.
 10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the housingmounts the suction nozzle, the suction source, the agitation brush, theagitation brush drive, and the at least one cutting blade.
 11. Thevacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a handleassembly pivotally attached to the housing, wherein the suction nozzle,the suction source, the agitation brush, the agitation brush drive, andthe at least one cutting blade are all mounted to the housing, and aliquid delivery and extraction system is mounted at least in part to thehousing for discharging liquid onto and removing liquid from a surfaceto be cleaned.
 12. A vacuum cleaner comprising; a housing defining anagitation cavity and a suction nozzle; a suction source in fluidcommunication with the suction nozzle; an agitation brush mounted in theagitation cavity for rotation about a brush axis; an agitation brushdrive connected to the agitation brush for rotating the agitation brushabout the brush axis; the improvement comprising, at least one cuttingblade mounted to the housing adjacent a portion of the agitator brush toprevent buildup of elongated particles on the portion of the agitationbrush.
 13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12 wherein the portionof the agitator brush is adjacent an end of the agitator brush.
 14. Thevacuum cleaner according to claim 13 and further comprising at least oneadditional cutting blade wherein the at least two cutting blades aremounted to the housing adjacent to each end of the agitator brush. 15.The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12 and further comprising a handleassembly pivotally attached to the housing.
 16. The vacuum cleaneraccording to claim 12 and further comprising a canister mounting thesuction source, and a flexible hose fluidly connecting the suctionsource to the suction nozzle.
 17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim12 wherein the housing mounts the suction nozzle, the suction source,the agitation brush, the agitation brush drive, and the at least onecutting blade.
 18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12 and furthercomprising a handle assembly pivotally attached to the housing, whereinthe suction nozzle, the suction source, the agitation brush, theagitation brush drive, and the at least one cutting blade are allmounted to the housing, and a liquid delivery and extraction system ismounted at least in part to the housing for discharging liquid onto andremoving liquid from a surface to be cleaned.